Medical Student, Neurosurgery Research Fellow Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College New York, New York, United States
Introduction: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) affects over 6 million patients worldwide. For PD patients with symptoms refractory to medication, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective form of treatment. Previous studies have found that female PD patients are less likely to receive DBS treatment compared to male PD patients. This retrospective cohort study evaluates the clinical implications of existing gender disparities in DBS treatment of PD.
Methods: The National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample was queried from 2015-2019 for PD patients receiving DBS, using International Classification of Disease 10th Edition diagnostic and procedural codes. Along with patient demographics and comorbidities, hospital course and discharge disposition were compared between female and male PD patients receiving DBS. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to examine length of hospital stay, complications, and discharge disposition, while controlling for age and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index.
Results: Of the 15,090 patients who received DBS for PD, 4,785 patients were female (31.7%) and 10,305 patients were male (68.3%). Female PD patients receiving DBS were more likely to fall in the lower 50th percentile of median income (p=0.014) and be insured by Medicare (p < 0.001), compared to their male counterparts. Female PD patients receiving DBS were less likely to suffer from comorbidities, with lower prevalence of diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.001), hyperlipidemia (p < 0.001), and obesity (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in discharge disposition between female and male PD patients receiving DBS.
Conclusion : Despite better pre-existing health and no significant difference in discharge disposition post-DBS treatment, female PD patients are less likely to undergo DBS than their male counterparts. These findings underscore the importance of targeting gender disparities in treatment of PD to ensure that all patients receive the individualized care they need to best manage their PD symptoms.
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